Double folding partition

ABSTRACT

In a double folding partition comprising two sets of interhinged panel elements, the hinge axis at one vertical edge of each panel element of each set is situated substantially in the plane of or outside the panel element surface remote from the other set of elements, whereas the hinge axis at the opposite vertical edge of each panel element is spaced at least the thickness of the panel element from the other surface thereof, i.e. toward the other set of panel elements.

'United States Patent 1191 Pontoppidan 1 Oct. 7, 1975 [54] DOUBLEFOLDING PARTITION 2,717,033 9/1955 Breslow et al. 160/199 X [761Inventor: Eskfld Ponwppidan, 92 Langs 52335213 2/1323 211255.?T.i.1111""111312113315 Hegnet, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark 3,599,702 8/1971 Bedard 160/84R Dec. 6t .1 [21] Appl' 428942 Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor [30]Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Jan. 9, 1973 Denmark102/73 In a double foldmg part1t10n comprlsmg two sets of 1n- 52 U.S. c1160/199- 160/206 terhinged Panel elements the hinge axis at one 511111.01. E06B 3/48- E 06B 3/46 edge of each Panel element each Set isSituated [58] Field of Search 160/84 R 84 84 L 232 substantially in theplane of or outside the panel elel60/199 206 118 17 ment' surface remotefrom the other set of elements, whereas the hinge axis at the oppositevertical edge of [56] References Cited each panel element is spaced atleast the thickness of the panel element from the other surface thereof,i.e. UNITED STATES PATENTS toward the other set of panel elements,1,858,801 5/1932 Bolard 160/196 D UX 2,350,094 5/1944 Butts 160/84 R 5Claims, 5 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent 0a. 7,1975 Sheet10f4' 3,910,338

FIG. I

FIG. 2

US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,910,338

US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 4 of4 3,910,338

DOUBLE FOLDING PARTITION The invention relates to a double foldingpartition of the known type comprising two sets of panels in which thepanels are hinged together pairwise at their vertical side edges and aresuspended in such a way that they are movable as a whole between anunfolded position or plane position, in which the two sets of panelshave an intermediate space between them, and a folded posi tion in whichthe panels have been turned about 90 around vertical axes, reckoned fromthe plane position, and pushed together against each other in each set.

For years, folding partitions have been used for the variablepartitioning of rooms, particularly in buildings used for hotel andrestaurant activities, but are increasingly gaining ground also inprivate residences. A serious problem in connection with foldingpartitions is that at one and the same time they are to posess acomparatively small weight, out of regard to their being easilymanoeuvred, and be sufficiently sound-proof in the plane position orclosed position. These two regards are not directly compatible since inthe case of folding partitions consisting of only one set of panels thesound insulation requires that the individual panels of the set have aconsiderable thickness and weight.

The endeavours to achieve a higher degree of sound insulation comprisethe employment of double folding partitions, that is to say foldingpartitions consisting of two sets of panels which in the plane positionform a sound absorbing intermediate space and which can be folded in anaccordion-like way. In a prior art construction of this type, each sideof the double folding partition consists of a number of pairwiseassociated panels which are hinged together along their adjoiningvertical side edges and at the remaining vertical side edges are hingedto supporting columns which, while maintaining their vertical position,are displaceable along ceiling and floor rails. In order that themanufacture and mounting of the folding partition as well as itsmanoeuvring should not become too difficult, the said columns are commonto the two partition sides or the two sets of panel elements, and due tothis it cannot be avoided that the columns to an essential degree reducethe sound insulating effect of the folding partition, since the columnscreate sound bridges between the two partition sides in the planeposition. In certain cases, the prior art construction involves theadditional drawback that in its folded position the folding partitionhas a depth or thickness exceeding twice the width of each panel.

The double folding partition according to the invention differs from theprior art technique explained above in that the two sets of panels aresuspended from parallel running and guiding rails, the spacing betweenwhich is less than the width of the panels, and in that the axis ofevery other edge hinge in each set of panels is located substantially inthe plane of or outside the outer surface of the panels, while the axesof the re maining edge hinges are displaced a distance, corresponding toat least the thickness of the panel, inwardly from the inner surface ofthe panels, each inwardly displaced edge hinge in each set of panelsbeing opposite to an outside edge hinge in the other set of panels.

In this case, the two sides or two sets of panels of the foldingpartition may have no sound-transmitting connection at all with eachother, and when the partition is being folded from the plane positionthe panels of one set can slide partially in between the panels of theother set, so that the total depth or thickness of the folded partitionneed not be very much larger than the width of one panel.

The invention will now be more fully explained with reference to theaccompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention and in which FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of part of afolding partition according to the invention and with parts of one setof panels omitted, a horizontal section of the partition being entered,

FIG. 2 shows a broken, vertical section through the partition in itsplane position, the left-hand side of the section showing the partitionin a lower, stabilized position while the right-hand side shows thepartition raised preparatory to being pushed together or foldedtogether,

FIG. 3 shows part of a horizontal section through the partition while itis being folded,

FIG. 4 shows a corresponding section through the partition after it hasbeen folded completely and FIG. 5 shows one-half of a section on aconsiderably larger scale through the upper frame of the foldingpartition.

In the embodiment of the double folding partition shown in the drawingsthe partition is surrounded by a frame consisting of a bottom part 1, atop part 2 and two side parts 3. As shown, each of these frame parts maybe composed of two substantially uniform components between which an airgap 4 is left to prevent or counteract the transmission of sound throughthe various frame parts.

The folding partition proper consists of two sets of rectangular panels5 and 6 which form one and the other side, respectively, of the foldingpartition in its plane position, FIG. 1, and which in each set arehinged together along their vertical side edges, as appears most clearlyfrom FIGS. 3 and 4. The edge hinges 7a and 7b used for this purpose maybe so-called piano lid hinges or may be constituted by likewisewell-known strip hinges of a suitable plastics material. The hinges 717have their axes located substantially in the plane of the outer surfaceof the associated panels 5 or 6, while the hinges 7a are placed in sucha way that, reckoned from the inner surface of the panels, their axesare displaced a distance inwardly corresponding approximately to thethickness of each panel. Hereby the panels 5 and 6 are enabled to befolded closely face to face in the folded position of the partition, seeFIG. 4.

Each panel 5 or 6 is rotatable around a vertical axis which coincideswith or lies in the vicinity of the vertical centre line of the paneland which is determined by a lower guide pin 8, which engages anassociated bottom rail 9 for the set of panels in question, and a bogie10 which runs in an upper running and guiding rail 11, see particularlyFIG. 5. The two running and guiding rails 11 are secured to a commonsupport 12 which rests on an inflatable length of tube 13 inserted inthe top part 2 of the frame. In FIG. 5 and in the right-hand side ofFIG. 2 the length of tube 13 is shown inflated, for instance by means ofcompressed air supplied from a compressor, not shown, via a pipe 14,FIG. 1. The support 12 with the two running rails 11 is hereby raised somuch that the panels 5 and 6 suspended from the running rails are raisedClear of the lower frame part 1 so that the bogies 10 enable the twosets of panels 5 and 6 to be displaced and turned so to speakunimpededly. When the pressure fluid is allowed to es cape from thelength of tube 13, the support 12 and thereby the folding partitionproper will be lowered until the panels 5 and 6 rest with their bottomedges on the frame bottom part 1, see the left-hand side of FIG. 2, andconsequently are stabilized in the position set, usually either theplane position or the completely folded position. As a rule, the weightof the folding partition will be sufficient for bringing about thedownward movement but, as shown in FIG. 5 and indicated in FIG. 1, theremay between the top side of the support 12 and the lower side of thesupporting element 15 of the frame top side be inserted an additionalinflatable length of tube 16.

In order to improve the sound insulation at the frame top part 2flexible sealing strips 17 as shown in FIG. 5 may be inserted betweenthe support 12 and the element 15.

For the stabilization of the folding partition in its completely foldedposition, FIG. 4, as well as in its plane position, FIG. I, serveelastic cords 18 or similar spring means, each of which connects twoopposed panels 5 and 6 and is fixed thereto at points which are locatedbetween the vertical axes of rotation or bogie axes of the panels inquestion and their inwardly displaced edge hinges 7a. Irrespectivewhether the partition is to be folded from the plane position shown inFIG. 1 or is to be unfolded from the face-to-face position in FIG. 4,there will during the first part of the movement occur a stretching ofthe cords l8, and this means that these cords tend to secure the foldingpartition in the two said positions.

The pairwise opposite panels 5 and 6 of the two sets of panels, or atleast some of these pairs of panels, are furthermore interconnected viaflexible, substantially unextensible cords 19, the points of fixation ofwhich on the panels are located so to be opposite to each other and inthe vicinity of the side edges of the panels, the length of the cordsbeing slightly longer than the distance between these points of fixationin the plane position of the folding partition, FIG. I. The purpose ofthese cords 19 is to co-ordinate the movements of the two sets of panelsduring the unfolding and folding operations as well as to transmit themovement over the full width of the partition. Thus, supposing that aninwardly directed (in the drawing downwardly directed) pressure beexerted at the edge hinge designated by 7b in the horizontal section inFIG. 1, a clockwise rotation around the vertical centre line will beimparted directly to the panel designated by 5, and via the cord 19 atthe left-hand side edge of the said panel the panel designated by 6 andassociated with the other set of panels will be forced to perform acorresponding rotation, etc.

I claim:

1. A double folding panel structure comprising two sets of rectangularpanels that are all of the same width,

hinge means connecting the adjoining vertical edges of the panels ofeach set of panels in such a way that both sets of panels are movablebetween an extended position in which the panels of each set of panelsare substantially co-planar and are in generally opposed, parallellaterally spaced relation to the panels of the other set of panels, anda retracted position in which the panels of each set are each rotatedsubstantially about vertical axes and are sandwiched between the panelsof the other set, and suspension means for each of said sets of panels,said suspension means including a pair of guiding rails mounted inparallel relation and laterally spaced from one another a distance lessthan said width of the respective panels, a plurality of runners mountedon and movable along each of said rails, said runners each beingconnected to a panel of one of said sets of panels so as to permit themovement thereof between said extended and retracted positions, eachintermediate panel of each set of panels being connected to oneadjoining panel by a hinge of a first type, the axis of which is spacedat least a distance corresponding to the thickness of a panel inwardlyfrom the inner surface of the panel, and to the other adjoining panel bya hinge of a second type, the axis of which is spaced outwardly fromsaid inner surface at least a distance corresponding to the thickness ofthe panels, each hinge of said first type incorporated in one of saidsets of panels being opposite to a hinge of said second typeincorporated in the other set of panels.

2. A double folding panel structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein atleast one pair of opposite panels of either of said sets of panels areinterconnected by means of a resiliently extensible cord means, the endsof which are fixed to each of said opposite panels at points locatedbetween said vertical tilting axis and said first type hinge of saidpanels.

3. A double folding panel structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein atleast one pair of opposite panels of either of said sets of panels areinterconnected by means of a flexible and substantially inextensiblecord means having a length that is slightly longer than the lateralspacing of said sets of panels in their extended position, the ends ofsaid cord means being fixed to either of said panels at points which areopposite to each other in said extended position and are located in thevicinity of a pair of vertical side edges of said panels.

4. A double folding panel structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidpair of parallel guiding rails are vertically movable between a lowernon-supporting position in which said sets of panels rest immobilized ona bottom support, and an upper supporting position in which said sets ofpanels are raised clear of said bottom support.

5. The double folding panel structure as defined in claim 4, furthercomprising means for simultaneously moving said pair of parallel guidingrails between said lower and said upper positions.

1. A double folding panel structure comprising two sets of rectangularpanels that are all of the same width, hinge means connecting theadjoining vertical edges of the panels of each set of panels in such away that both sets of panels are movable between an extended position inwhich the panels of each set of panels are substantially co-planar andare in generally opposed, parallel laterally spaced relation to thepanels of the other set of panels, and a retracted position in which thepanels of each set are each rotated substantially 90* about verticalaxes and are sandwiched between the panels of the other set, andsuspension means for each of said sets of panels, said suspension meansincluding a pair of guiding rails mounted in parallel relation andlaterally spaced from one another a distance less than said width of therespective panels, a plurality of runners mounted on and movable alongeach of said rails, said runners each being connected to a panel of oneof said sets of panels so as to permit the movement thereof between saidextended and retracted positions, each intermediate panel of each set ofpanels being connected to one adjoining panel by a hinge of a firsttype, the axis of which is spaced at least a distance corresponding tothe thickness of a panel inwardly from the inner surface of the panel,and to the other adjoining panel by a hinge of a second type, the axisof which is spaced outwardly from said inner surface at least a distancecorresponding to the thickness of the panels, each hinge of said firsttype incorporated in one of said sets of panels being opposite to ahinge of said second type incorporated in the other set of panels.
 2. Adouble folding panel structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein at leastone pair of opposite panels of either of said sets of panels areinterconnected by means of a resiliently extensible cord means, the endsof which are fixed to each of said opposite panels at points locatedbetween said vertical tilting axis and said first type hinge of saidpanels.
 3. A double folding panel structure as claimed in claim 1,wherein at least one pair of opposite panels of either of said sets ofpanels are interconnected by means of a flexible and substantiallyinextensible cord means having a length that is slightly longer than thelateral spacing of said sets of panels in their extended position, theends of said cord means being fixed to either of said panels at pointswhich are opposite to each other in said extended position and arelocated in the vicinity of a pair of vertical side edges of said panels.4. A double folding panel structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidpair of parallel guiding rails are vertically movable between a lowernon-supporting position in which said sets of panels rest immobilized ona bottom support, and an upper supporting position in which said sets ofpanels are raised clear of said bottom support.
 5. The double foldingpanel structure as defined in claim 4, further comprising means forsimultaneously moving said pair of parallel guiding rails between saidlower and said upper positions.